Randy ‘Bear’ Whitley
Randall Vincent “Bear” Whitley was born on April 26, 1951, in Dallas, Texas, to Elbert Vincent Whitley and Johnnie (Cogdell) Whitley. He passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at the age of 71. Randy married his high school sweetheart, Linda Moon Whitley, on November 21, 1970. The couple has been married for over 50 years.
Randy was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, granddad, and friend. He deeply loved his family, and they were his greatest source of pride. He loved everything outdoors and was particularly fond of hunting and fishing. Randy was very interested in the military and Native American history. Throughout his life, Randy worked in the oil fields, welded, drove trucks, worked in Iraq as a contractor with the military, and finished his working career as a correctional officer.
Randy was preceded in death by his parents, Elbert and Johnnie.
He is survived by his son, Jamie Whitley and wife Melanie; daughter, Jennifer Kinkade and husband Jim; five grandsons, Trystin and wife Emily, Jake, Blake, Preston, and Luke; along with his siblings, Danny Hand and Kim Rains.
Randy’s funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 30, 2022, in the Melton-Kitchens Chapel of Memories, with Chad Ezell officiating. The family will welcome friends for a visitation at the funeral home one hour prior to the funeral service. Shady Grove cemetery will be Randy’s final resting place.
Memorial donations in Randy’s name can be made to the Shady Grove Cemetery or the Stephens County Humane Society and can be left at Melton-Kitchens Funeral Home. Condolences can be made online at meltonkitchens.com.
